The Sprout: NAFTA uncertainty continues after Trump’s speech

Good morning and welcome to the Sprout, where your host hopes everyone is having a delightful National Apricot Day. Looking for some culinary inspiration? Here’s a list of 20 apricot recipes Martha Stewart claims are “truly amazing and absolutely delicious!”

And here is today’s agriculture news.

The Lead

American farmers are no clearer on whether U.S. President Donald Trump intends to destroy the North American Free Trade Agreement after Trump delivered a campaign-style speech Monday that barely touched on the trade file. As Politico reports, in a speech at the American Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in Nashville, Trump said ongoing NAFTA talks weren’t “the easiest negotiation, but we’re going to make it fair for you people again. We want to see even more victories for the American farmer and the American rancher.” Politico has the latest.

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board didn’t take kindly to Trump’s farm belt speech Monday, arguing that pulling out of the trade deal would hurt the states that elected him.

Meanwhile, the head of the Royal Bank of Canada says an American withdrawal from NAFTA is becoming more and more likely. Reutershas that story.

And, in case you missed it, here’s video of Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay’s full news conference at the American Farm Bureau conference.

Around Town

Dairy Farmers of Canada has a new chief executive officer. The country’s largest dairy lobby announced Monday it has hired Jacque Lefebvre, a familiar face to Ottawa aggies. Lefebvre previously headed the Dairy Processors Association of Canada. His first day was Monday. You can read the full release here.

In Canada

There some developing news in the Ottawa valley: a massive barn fire in Perth County has left 1,800 animals trapped. As CBC News reports, members of the St. Mary’s, Sebringville and West Perth fire departments responded to the fire shortly before 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The Ontario government is investigating reports of businesses violating provincial labour standards as part of their response to new minimum wage requirements. As The Globe and Mail reports, the province’s labour minister says he’s also going to hire up to 175 new inspectors to enforce the laws.

Internationally

Reuters is reporting that the Egyptian government has officially revised its quarantine requirements on the common grain fungus ergot to bring them in line with other governments, and traders now hope the policy shift will end widespread confusion around selling wheat to the world’s largest buyer.

Also from Reuters: fruit and vegetable prices in China are soaring after a blizzard limited road access, cut off shipments and damaged crops.

Ten overweight hedgehogs in Israel have been put on a strict diet after too much indulgence in street foods left them unable to curl up into a ball to defend themselves from predators. Reuters has that story.